Iris catches Kyle gazing out the window, so she does as well, and then so do their children. The family stands there, in front of their living room window, all four of them, staring out at the police cars parked at their dead neighbor’s home, watching the officers and investigator teams moving in and out of the house, forcing it to give up its secrets.

Julia breaks the silence. “We have to be there for Ned. Like we’re his family.”

“You’re right,” Iris says. “Of course.”

“Ned has to be our priority. Helping him.” Julia’s voice grows stronger, and Kyle and Iris exchange a glance.

“And Mike,” Grant says.

“Yeah, whatever, once his alibi clears,” Julia says. “I know you think he’s awesome, Grant, but he has to be the prime suspect. The boyfriend or husband always is.”

Iris glances at Kyle. Would anyone ever believe you could kill me? Yes, I think they would. We never know what someone is capable of. We kid ourselves that we do, because it makes life easier.

11

Iris and Kyle

They’re getting ready for bed. Iris brushing her teeth, Kyle stepping out of his jeans and sweatshirt, pulling on a T-shirt. He collapses into the bed. He feels both exhausted and wired, which is terrible; it might be a sleepless night. His whole body hurts: his face, the scrapes on his legs from being dragged down to the creek. He could drink more wine; he could take a pill to calm himself. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t deserve quiet. He stares at the ceiling.

He has had time to think, to calm down, to grow angry again. Someone beat him up. Someone threatened his children if he talked. But that same someone could have killed him and didn’t. That same someone could have knocked him out and left him for the police to find in Danielle’s house as they arrived. But hadn’t.

Someone else was in her house at great risk. Why? If that man was Danielle’s murderer, then he hadn’t wanted to commit a second murder so quickly.

Looking for something, the same as Kyle was?

The flash drive he’s found at Danielle’s is hidden in another shoe. He doesn’t dare put it in a computer here.

“Is something going on between Julia and Ned?” he asks. He needs a break from his own thoughts, and he senses this is a ripe topic.

Iris spits, rinses. “Other than being friends? I’m not sure. I asked Grant. He shrugged.”

“He wouldn’t know.”

“He would,” Iris says.

“Why? They’re not close.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say about your kids.” She climbs into bed, holding her laptop. He looks at it like it’s the enemy. She ignores this look and opens it. “Julia and Grant fuss at each other, but they’re siblings. Don’t be silly.”